Labor Commissioner Mark Butler announced Thursday that the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.5 percent last month, down from 8.7 percent in October and 9.5 percent in November 2011.

"This is the lowest state unemployment rate in nearly four years, since it was 8.5 percent in January 2009," Butler said in a statement.

Butler said the number of jobs increased by nearly 10,000 last month. Areas that reported strong growth include trade, transportation and warehousing; educational services; informational services; local government; and manufacturing.

"I am encouraged by the continuing growth in the number of manufacturing jobs in Georgia," Gov. Nathan Deal said in a statement. "This is a result of focusing on a pro-business environment and working closely with Georgia employers to help them grow their businesses while actively recruiting new industry to our state."